Fuzz-free flat peaches are the emerging stars of Fruits de Ponent’s stonefruit portfolio with the doughnut-like fruit making waves in European and Far Eastern markets. Sales manager, Robert Perucho, discusses expectations for this season’s juicy orbs.

Fruit pickers are busy harvesting substantial volumes of flat peaches around the producing regions of Spain, initially in Seville before moving onto Murcia and Catalonia.

Despite some unexpected rains recently, the growing season has been good for the 20 to 25 different varieties of flat peaches grown across the country.

As the export campaign gears up, producers are predicting good prices for the fruit which is usually only available for three months of the year.

"We are starting with our production of flat peaches in northern Spain in June and although we expect the crop to be very good, it’s still slightly early to define our provisions due to the weather conditions because it has been raining," Perucho tells www.freshfruitportal.com.

"Our main destinations will be Europe; we send a lot to England, France and Germany and obviously to the domestic markets around Spain as well, where this style is particularly popular."

Continuing the same program as last year’s air freight schedule to the Far East, bulk volumes are planned for Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia where the fruit is making good ground.

"Initially we tried to send by sea, but we quickly realized that it is better for everyone involved if we send via air cargo because we can't afford for quality to be affected.

"With air freight, we ensure a much faster transit time to our markets in the Far East which we will be supplying again this season."

Perucho says Middle Eastern markets have been explored, but 'too much competition' leads to a glut and low prices for the white-fleshed, sweet flavored fruit.

"We have tried to supply the Middle East but there are a lot of people from Spain sending fruits there, the competitors are quite large and sometimes the market is not so good.

"It’s too easy to send fruit to the Middle East because it's not an excessive transit time and it’s a market with very few specifications which means everyone can send fruit and sometimes this causes problems.

"There is so much competition and the prices are driven down so it’s better to supply Germany or elsewhere in Europe."

Around 10,000 metric tons (MT) will be available from June to August and possibly into September if production levels hold up during the coming weeks.

"We are playing with around 20 to 25 different varieties of flat peaches. If the average consumer sees different varieties on the shelves, they will probably not appreciate they are actually different as they will always get consistent taste and quality.

"For instance, during one or two weeks we supply a certain variety then we move onto another variety and this way we can ensure consistent supply throughout the season."

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